By Bella ButlerEBS EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
Nearly two years ago, Dr. Sydney Desmarais opened Lone Peak
Veterinary Hospital at the gateway to Big Sky. With experience in emergency
veterinary services, she brings unique and necessary services to a community
filled with pets. Before moving to Montana, Dr. Desmarais, a Rhode Island
native, worked at a veterinary hospital in Portland, Oregon, for eight years
alongside more than 20 other doctors. Today, she enjoys running her
single-doctor practice, the only veterinary hospital in Big Sky.
Explore Big Sky: How does servicing the Big Sky community
differ from other communities in which you’ve provided care?
Sydney Desmarais: I
think it is actually a lot more fun, but how it’s probably different is that I
know most of my clients and their dogs. I think there is a lot of value in the
fact that you get to know who you’re working with, which allows you to
communicate with them better.
EBS: What is one of the most memorable moments
you’ve had as a resident or business owner in Big Sky?
S.D.: It was
helping a family in treating their dog with cancer, from the diagnosis to the
treatment, seeing the dog super happy post-surgery and then being there when
they had to say goodbye with their whole family. So being able to be a part of
a big health ordeal from the very beginning to the very end and being able to
help with every piece and being able to see all the happy moments and then be
able to help with the sad ones. In Big Sky that’s something I really value is
that you get to be there for everything.
EBS: Where do you see your business in 10 year?
S.D.: My hope
would just be as the town expands that we would have two doctors, but my goal
would be to actually keep it still very small. To have two doctors and to have
more equipment. My hope would be over 10 years that it grows to having
everything that Big Sky residents need so that they don’t ever have to drive
the canyon.
EBS: What is it about Big Sky that compels you to
stick it out through the hard times?
S.D.: I came from
a city, so definitely a sense of community and knowing everybody and feeling
more valued in helping people in a smaller community get the resources that
they need. Also, my quality of life. I run, I bike and I ski, so it’s knowing
that it’s right there.
EBS: What are the biggest obstacles in operating
a small business in Big Sky?
S.D.: It’s the
distribution of medical supplies. Oxygen is only delivered one day a week, even
when I try and overnight something it might take two or three days. I think
it’s the fact that we’re small, and then it just has to do with getting medical
supplies delivered remotely.
EBS: What is the best piece of business advice
you’ve received?
S.D.: Practice
from your heart and practice high quality medicine. Be honest with people and
you’ll make it.
EBS: How have your life experiences prepared you
for owning a business in Big Sky?
S.D.: They
prepared me by the fact that realizing no matter how challenging and scary
things may get, and no matter how many things you work through that you don’t
know, usually it works out in the end. I did a lot of research and did a lot of
travelling in developing countries [doing infectious disease research], and
stuff would always go really wrong before it went right. That aspect of roll
with it, get through it and figure out what you need to do and keep moving
forward.
EBS: What have you found to be the most
successful way to reach community members?
S.D.: I honestly
feel like it’s word of mouth and putting yourself out there for community
events. Just saying hi; I go to talk to people when I see them at music [or
other events].
EBS: What are the advantages of people to bringing
their pets to you instead of providers in Bozeman?
S.D.: I think
being the only doctor in the practice is an advantage because it’s continuity
of care. Also not having to drive the canyon because cats get really stressed
out in the car. I think one of my personal strengths is trying to work really
hard to communicate to people and give them all sorts of treatment options.
EBS: What is the craziest pet injury you’ve seen in
your career?
S.D.: It was
probably a black lab that got stuck in a coffee table. The firemen in Oregon
had to bring me the dog in the coffee table because they couldn’t get it out.
That was the (funniest) one because everything worked out fine.
